High School football: CCS board approves changes to its playoff format
MONTEREY – In an effort to create a fairer playing field in the postseason for football this fall, the Central Coast Section Board of Managers has approved changes to its playoff system.
Currently, leagues in the Central Coast Section are classified by strength, with “A” leagues being the strongest, “C” the weakest. The playoffs are categorized into different divisions, with the Open or Division I being the strongest. Teams earn points through the season that help determine what division they fall into for the playoffs. For example a win over an “A” league team earns more points than a win over a “C” league team. Often “A” league football teams come from schools with high enrollment or private schools with strong athletic programs.
Among the changes passed for the 2024 season is a rule that prohibits “A” league teams from playing in Division V, regardless of their point total.
Two years ago Palo Alto was knocked down to Division V based on points as an “A” league team. The Vikings ran through the playoffs, facing Stevenson in the first round. Aragon of San Mateo did the same in 2022.
“It was an unfair playing field,” Stevenson football coach Kyle Cassamas said. “I lived it. It was more (about) how can we make sure to keep our players safe before talking Xs and Os.”
Stevenson is a member of the Santa Lucia Division of the Pacific Coast Athletic League, which is a “C” league.
“It’s fairer for the ‘C’ League schools,” Carmel coach Golden Anderson said. “I mean, what did you prove playing someone (with) four times your enrollment? The gap is not as wide. But there are still a lot of inequities.”
The Padres, who are in a “B” league, stand to benefit from the changes as well, as no “B” league school will be forced into Division I or II this fall.
Last season Carmel went 10-0 in the Mission Division, producing enough points in the old system to earn a road game in the CCS Division II playoffs against eventual state champion Soquel of the Gabilan Division, an “A” league. The Padres lost 35-14.
“I have been very critical that the goalposts continue to move between league play and the playoffs,” Anderson said. “You are basing your league on your strength. When we get to the playoffs, it was thrown out the window. I don’t think it’s very healthy.”
Had this format been in place last year, the Padres would have been placed in Division III, with the likes of Alisal, Scotts Valley and Palma.
“I believe ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’ leagues are separated for a reason,” Anderson. “This is a bit of a compromise of what was proposed last year. Sure, it’s a step in the right direction.”
A proposal last year was that “A” league teams could only participate in Divisions I and II.
“It was shot down because I think we were trying to overcorrect the problem,” CCS commissioner David Grissom said.
Under the changes, Divisions III and IV will be comprised of teams from both “A” and “B” leagues based on points.
“That’s the way it should be,” said Palma coach Jeff Carnazzo, whose team won the Division III state title last season. “It’s definitely a more even playing field. You needed to have an area that has a mixture of both divisions.”
Despite being forced to forfeit three wins last fall because of using an ineligible player, Palma still would’ve been in Division III based on its point total.
“At the end of the day, we have no control over what the system will be,” said Carnazzo. “We just have to go out and play the games.”
While the playoffs are considered a reward, knowing that an “A” league team won’t be awaiting them should give Stevenson a different outlook should the Pirates make the playoffs next season.
“Sure it has,” Cassamas said. “Making the playoffs is exciting. Going against the odds of playing an ‘A’ league team like Palo Alto is a completely different kind of football. We have to get there first. But this does potentially open things up.”
The Padres, who have three “A” league caliber non-league opponents on their schedule this season, won’t have to worry about being penalized for attempting to improve their program with a beefed-up schedule.
“I just think as a coach you play wherever the rules put us,” Anderson said. “But there is a reason we have equity leagues. This sport is about numbers.”
While a majority of playoff teams will likely still come from “A” leagues, the expectation is it will at least eliminate some of the first round mismatches we’ve seen in all divisions since the format was adopted.
“I still think we have the worst system in the state,” Seaside coach Al Avila said. “This is all about the state playoffs. You have to go by (enrollment) size in football. You can’t rely on two guys like in basketball or a stud on the mound in baseball. Football is just a different animal.”
While Avila – whose Spartans also fell to Palo Alto in the 2022 semifinals – called it a step forward, his belief is a lot of “A” caliber schools will schedule lighter preseasons to keep their point total down for the postseason to slip into the lower divisions.
“A lot of these coaches don’t want to play a beefed-up preseason because of the points,” Avila said. “That’s the thinking now. It’s not about league titles. It’s about trying to position yourself for a CCS title. The bigger schools up north are still controlling this.”
